Pizza Pasta Bake

This sausage pepperoni pizza pasta bake is an easy and fun recipe that’s perfect as a midweek meal.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword casseroles, pasta dinner

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1 5

Build casserole 15

Total Time 1 35

Servings

Calories 655kcal

1 pound Mild Italian Sausage casings removed and torn into small pieces or use bulk sausage
28 ounce canned Diced Tomatoes undrained
24 ounce Jar Meatless Pasta Sauce use your favorite brand and variety
½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
12 ounces Pasta cooked to package directions for al dente and drained (use a short pasta – we used ziti)
1-2 tablespoons Salt for the pasta water (we use kosher salt)
½ cup Panko Breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons Butter
16 ounces Mozzarella Cheese shredded (about 4 cups)
3-4 ounces Sliced Pepperoni approximately 40 pieces

Add the sausage to a large pot and place it over medium-high. Stir the sausage while breaking up any large pieces using a wooden spoon or a spatula. Cook for 4-6 minutes until browned. (see note below)
Add the tomatoes, pasta sauce, and Italian seasoning. Stir well. Bring the sauce to a simmer, lower heat to medium-low and cover.
Cook the sauce for 30 minutes to finish cooking the sausage and let the flavors come together. Keep it at a simmer. If it starts boiling too vigorously, lower the heat a bit. Stir occasionally.
While the sauce cooks make the breadcrumb topping and cook the pasta.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta following the package directions for al dente. Remember to salt the water. When the pasta is done drain it well.
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the panko breadcrumbs. Stir until coated with the butter. Take the skillet off the heat and reserve for later.

Preheat the oven to 350°F
Combine the pasta and sausage pasta sauce.
Add half of the pasta mixture to a large baking dish.
Top with about half the mozzarella cheese.
Arrange half the pepperoni slices on top. Space them so that every serving will include pepperoni.
Repeat the steps in the same order: pasta, cheese, pepperoni but reserve ¼-⅓ cup of the mozzarella to sprinkle over the pepperoni.
Finally, sprinkle the top evenly with the prepared breadcrumbs.
Bake the pizza pasta for 30 minutes until the breadcrumb topping is golden and the edges are bubbly.
Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving.

If the sausage renders a lot of oil drain some of it, if desired. An easy way to do this is to take the pot off the heat. Mound the sausage on one side of the pot and gently tip it so that the excess oil pools on the other side of the sausage. Use a ladle or a large spoon to scoop out the excess oil.
Examples of short pasta include ziti, penne, fusilli, rigatoni, to name a few.
Use an extra-large baking dish or baking pan, ours is 9x13 inch.